Cummmins to develop 15-liter on-highway natural gas engine

As natural gas production grows in North America and the fuel becomes more readily available, Cummins believes that there is a strong market for engines powered by an alternative to diesel fuel.

The Trucker News Services

3/21/2012

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Cummins Inc. has begun development of a 15-liter heavy-duty, spark-ignited natural gas engine to meet demand for on-highway applications that are powered by the cheaper, cleaner and more plentiful fuel, the company said Wednesday.

As natural gas production grows in North America and the fuel becomes more readily available, Cummins believes that there is a strong market for engines powered by an alternative to diesel fuel.

“Cummins is committed to making the right investments in the technologies that strengthen our leadership position in natural gas,” said Ed Pence, Cummins vice president and general manager – Heavy-Duty Engine Business.

Cummins said the company has been investing significantly in the development of natural gas engines. In addition to its off-highway natural gas engines, Cummins is already producing on-highway spark-ignited natural gas engines for Cummins Westport, its joint venture with Westport Innovations in Vancouver, B.C.

Engines offered by Cummins Westport range in size from 5.9 liters to the recently announced 12-liter ISX12 G, which will begin production in 2013.

The ISX15 G will be based on the ISX15 diesel engine and is designed to build on Cummins’s spark-ignited, Stoichiometric cooled exhaust gas recirculation (SEGR) technology. A maintenance-free three-way catalyst will be the only required exhaust aftertreatment, Cummins said. The engine will run on compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas or biomethane.